Weiten is located in the Ysper-Weitental valley, also known as the “Valley of Sundials.” The parish church of St. Stephen has a Gothic choir and famous tracery windows with stained glass dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. A 57-kilometre cycling route connects the Danube Cycle Path with the southern Waldviertel and passes through Weiten. Other trail themes range from trees and shrubs to the solar system and literary quotations. This brings different ways of exploring the area together: architecture and art, nature, literature and cycling.

Art and History in Weiten

The Gothic choir and tracery windows with stained glass come together in the parish church of St. Stephen. The windows date from the 14th and 15th centuries and add a distinctive artistic touch. Guided tours of the church are available for groups of five or more by arrangement. If you are planning a tour, make sure to arrange a time in advance.

Another cultural and historical landmark is the pillory column with the Roland statue at the pillory square in Weiten. It is considered a visible symbol of judicial authority. Its significance therefore differs from that of the parish church’s sacred artworks: here, the focus is on judicial authority, while there it is on architecture and stained glass.

Trails Exploring Trees, Planets and Literature

The “Tut Gut Schritte Weg” trail runs for about 1.5 kilometres, or around 2,100 steps, through the centre of Weiten. The estimated walking time is about 45 minutes. The trail surface is also described in detail: 80 percent is paved, while 20 percent is a steeply ascending forest path. The length, approximate duration and trail conditions each provide a different guide for planning. Check the route details again before your trip.

The “Man and His Tree” trail focuses on individual trees and shrubs. It has around 50 marked and described stops explaining their significance. The forest along the trail is also home to a 1,000-year-old copper beech, considered a unique natural monument. The Hans Lagler Platzl is a rest area in the village of Weiten along this hiking trail. In this way, exploring individual trees and shrubs is combined with a designated rest stop.

The Planetary Circular Trail has a very different focus: it depicts the solar system at a scale of 1:1.6 billion and leads to the outermost planet, Pluto, in the hamlet of “Am Schuß.” Information boards display scale models of the planets. While the tree trail focuses on individual trees and shrubs, this one turns your attention to the planets and their representation to scale.

Literature features on the Dr. Jörg Mauthe Trail. Its 17 stops contain quotations from Dr. Jörg Mauthe’s books. The trails differ not only in their subject matter, but also in how they present it: with information about trees and shrubs, depictions of planets or passages from books.

Cycling Route and Special Activity

For cyclists, the Southern Waldviertel Route is another option to consider when planning a trip. It is 57 kilometres long, connects the Danube Cycle Path with the southern Waldviertel and passes through Weiten. Unlike the themed trails described above, this route connects two cycling routes. As signage and route conditions can change, it is advisable to check these details again before setting off.

A visit to Austria’s first camel riding school, offering workshops and rides, is also recommended. If you are considering this activity, check the participation requirements before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Leonhard am Forst, Blindenmarkt, Kilb, Leiben, Braunegg, Kemmelbach, Artstetten, Persenbeug

Return to the main travel overview: Melk.